SOUTH CANTERBURY.

Press, Volume LIX, Issue 17937, 4 December 1923, Page 12

SOUTH CANTERBURY.

TIMARU. Personal. Mr and Mrs R. W. Simpson (Timaru) were expected to arrive last evening after a trip to the Old Country. A weleonie home will be given to them by parishioners of St. Mary's on Thursday in the Bank street schoolroom. Miss D. Anderson returned to'Christchurch yesiterday after a holiday spent with Mrs F. F. A. tflrich (Elizabeth street). Mrs W. Ferguson and Miss Smith (Wellington) are staying at the Hydro. Mr and Mrs E. J. Kerr left for Christchurch by yesterday's express. Miss Glasgow (Rangiora) is staying with Mrs 11. Thompson (Seaview terrace). Miss Bei:tv Hislop, who was the guest of Mrs Arthur Ehvorthv, lias returned to Wellington. To mark the occasion of his marriage, and in recognition of the skilful care received while under treatment in the Timaru Hospital, Dr. Parr was made the recipient of a token of regard by a number of his ex-patients. ; The gift —which was sent anonymously—took the form of an oak silver-mounted smoker's cabinet, and bore the inscription: "Dr. Parr. Congratulations from ex-patients." An accompanying letter also wished the doctor the best of good luck." Cricket, Competition fixtures in both senior and junior divisions were continued on Saturday in very favourable weather In the senior grade the games commenced a week earlier were completed, victory in each caso going to the team which gained the lead on the opening day. At the Athletic Grounds Celtic defeated High School with an innings to spare, and Zingari inflicted an equally decisive defeat on Star at the Park. At the Eectory, Timaru again outscored Old Boys, winning by 148 runs. General Hews. Every year, when the holiday season comes round, Timaru is flooded with, visitors from : all parts of New Zealand. And often there is a lack of acoißodation. Boarding-houses, hotels, and private residences are now booking up very rapidly. Messrs Turnbull and Bule, architects, of Timaru, are building a specially designed residential flat in le Cren's terrace, and this will take a large number of people. There are ten complete flats in the building altogether, and it is interesting to note that this is the first specially designed and executed block of residential flats to be erected Canterbury. It was hoped to complete the building last month, but the work was delayed by labour troubles, etc. The block will bo ready for occupation some time in February. Trout fishing in South Canterburv has always been a popular sport, and the number of its devotees is growing. Up to the end of November last year, the South Canterbury Acclimatisation Society received £290 from license fees, whe'.reas up to the end of November t'lis year, the receipts from this source total £366, The Weather. The spell of fine weather continues, and although the.sky has been threat'eiiirig at time there is still no prospect the much needed rain ; arriving. Yesterday the conditions were much the same as oil Sunday, but the atmosphere was warmer. At 12 o'clock the shade temperature was 83 degrees. Shortly afterward the sky became clouded and the temperature dropped one degree. Later in the afternoon, however, the sun again shone steadily and at 2.30 o'clock the temperature in.the shade was 86.6 degrees. The month just passed was, so far as weather conditions, are concerned, notable for two things —• a" record shade temperature and the lowest rainfall that has been recorded in November during the past 17 years. The total rainfall for the . month was .77 inches which is seven points below the previous lowest on record (.84in) which was 'registered in November, 1917. Only in four instances (including 1923) during the past 17 yeartf has the rainfall in November failed to reach one inch. Laßt year the figure was 2.83 inches, in 1921 .94in, in 1920 1.89 in, in 1919 3.62 in, and in 1918. 3.39 in. During the month just passed rain fell on three days,' the highest fall on any one dc.y being .11 inches on November 11th. On November 27th a record temperature for a November day was recorded, the thermometer showing 91 degrees in th.e shade. Vital Statistics. The vital statistics for Timaru for the month of November show, compared with the corresponding month of 1922, a small increase in births and a slight decrease in deaths and marriages. During the past month there were nearly three times as many births as deaths, and an interesting feature of the birth figures is that females predominated by a majority of 8, while in November of last year the female figures were three above those for males. The following are the details* BIRTHS. 1922 1923 Males ... 17 16 Females ... 20 24 DEATHS. Males ... 14 11 , females ... 5 , 4 MAURI AGES. 12 10 Port of Timaru^ Shipping movements at the Port of Timaru will be found in the shipping columns. WAIMATE. A record for bright sunshine was established in Waimate for November, when an average per day .of 9.51 hours sunshine was registered, the highest for one month ever recorded. Old residents' assert that it is fully a quarter of a century since a dry season like the present one was experienced. The rainfall for the month was .74in on four days, against 2.51 in on sixteen days for the corresponding month last year. The monthly meeting of the Plunket Society was held on Saturday, Mrs Manchester presiding over a good attendance. A letter was received from Dr. Truby King asking each member of the committee to do her best to promote the health of the mother and child, and asking each branch to do its best to improve health and promote interest in and understanding of what is needed to ensure a strong, capable race. A sample set of revised patterns of Plunket baby garments was . received. Mrs R. Hurst spoke of a restrcom for women in Waimate, outlining what had been done' in other centres by co-operation. The next meeting was (Continued at foot Of next column.)

fixed ' for tho first Saturday in February. Within the last fortnight large consignments of strawberries have been railed from Wamiate. A local grower expressed the opinion that the dry season was having a detrimental eflcct on the strawberry season, which would be practically over in another week if tilings continue as at present. Twenty-six entries have Been received for the road race,, and the event proniis.es to be. highly successful. A tennis match between Oamaru and Waimate.teams took place at Oamaru on Saturday, and resulted, after a good afternoon's tennis, in a win for the home team by 15 sets to 9. "With practice, it is hoped in the second round that the local team will be able to reverse matters. Ibe last set of the day was marred by a painful accident. Mrs Scott slipped and wrenched her ankle. . , A match in the district competition, was played on the local courts between teams representing "VY aimate and Glenavv. After a very interesting match Glenavy won by 9 sets to 7. "VVillowbridge does not appear to be suffering 'from the dry weather to the same extent as-other parts of the district. although there are some signs Of wheat and oats browning off. The disease which attacked the wheat last season is threatening to lower the yield again m tho Willowbridge disThe Waihao River is completely dry in Dlaces. a most unusual occurrence.